Fountain pen



Jan. 9, 1968 A. PAVESE I 3,362,778

` FOUNTAIN PEN Filed oct. 24, 1965 United States Patent O 3,362,778 FOUNTAIN PEN Angelo Pavese, Corso Toscana 19, Turin, Italy Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,673 Claims priority, application Italy, Apr. 16, 1965, 753,570 4 Claims. (Cl. Mil- 107) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A nib-type fountain pen in which the writing implement slides Within the outer sheath of the pen in such a manner that it comes into writing position by the locking action of a longitudinal key situated inside the barrel and, when in retracted position, has the ow of ink interrupted thereto automatically by a control valve. This control valve consists of an appendix mounted onto one end of the nib support and projecting within the ink well or cartridge together with the collar of a tubular element, said collar having a spoon-shaped extremity, elastically deformable, for sealing the lower extremity of the terminal of the pen sheath.

The present invention relates to writing implements in general, and specifically, to a nib-type pen in which the writing implement slides Within and in relationship with the outer sheath in such a manner that the nib, which when not in use is in a withdrawn position within the sheath, is brought into a working position, that is, into a position which is terminally projecting from the sheath, by the locking action of a longitudinal key provided on the opposite terminus of the sheath.

The Withdrawal of the nib -back into the sheath is achieved by unlocking the longitudinal key through the reaction of a cylindrical spring which is under compression when the pen nib is in working position.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a pen which is substantially characterized by the fact that the ink flow is automatically controlled by a valve which closes and interrupts the ow of ink so that it no longer reaches the nib when this latter is in a withdrawn position and, conversely, opens the ilow of ink to feed the nib when this is brought into writing position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pen with a structure in the valve controlling the ink flow. This valve is composed of an appendix mounted onto one end of the nib support and projecting within the ink well, or ink cartridge, together with the collar of a tubular element. The relationship between this collar and the valve mentioned above is such that one achieves the closing or opening of the ink flow, in synchronization with the longitudinal sliding movement of the pen nib.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pen in which the above-mentioned collar traversed by the nib, is precast or premolded from an elastic material, such as a suitable plastic or rubber of a predetermined hardness, and is provided with a spoon-shaped extremity, elastically deformable and bendable, said extremity sealing the lower extremity or terminal of the pen sheath when the writing implement or nib is in a withdrawn position, thus preventing the nib from drying and concurrently avoiding possible ink leaks. The elastic spoonlike extremity, of course, opens under the thrust of the nib when this latter is -brought into working position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following descripition of its embodiment and from the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l shows the device of the invention, subdivided into two parts, and cross-sectionally axially reprice resented, in which the writing implement is in working position; and

FIGURE 2 is a similar longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pen with the writing implement or nib withdrawn within the sheath of the device.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the hollow sheath of the pen is composed of two separable parts 5 and 6, which may -be assembled by a simple screwing action on the threaded skirt of the tubular element 7 and are separated by ring nut 8. Obviously, parts 5 and 6 may be threaded directly one to the other.

The upper half of the sheath 5 is provided with a clip 9 and with a longitudinally sliding key 10. The lower half of the sheath 6, suitably shaped, is provided at its lower extremity with aperture 11 for the passage therethrough of terminus 12a of nib 12, riding over a support 13. Support 13, in turn, is mounted telescopically within annual section 1li-14a, in which section it slides without rotation. Elements 14 and 14a have different inside and outside diameters, as clearly shown in the drawings. In the terminal part of the lower sheath 6 there is incorporated a ring nut 15, made of resilient material of suitable hardness. This nut 15 is provided with opening 15a and is sealed in front by a base 15b, partially connected to the body of the nut 15 and which may be opened by moderate pressure upon the elastically deformable material of which it is made and upon the elastically deformable ring 15C which surrounds it. Between the inner annular seat 6a and the shoulder 14b of the annular body 14 there is mounted a cylindrical spring 17, the function of which is to maintain the writing implement in the position represented by FIGURE 2,. The section 14-14a is mounted so as to axially slide within the lower sheath 6 but is prevented from revolving by the radial tooth 18, which is engaged and slides in a corresponding inner groove 18a of sheath 6. The element 14 is internally designed to receive the terminus 21a of the ink cartridge 21.

The tubular inner appendix 14c is cut to a hollow and conically tapered profile so as to match the profile of tapered, trunco-conic base 13a of appendix 13b which is an integral component of support 13. In the support 13 there are provided one or more small conduits 13C for the passage of the ink. On the rod-shaped member 13d,

which is terminating with appendix 13b, there is mounted a cylindrical spring 22 which acts between diaphragm 14e and a seat appropriately obtained at the terminus of rod-shaped member 13d.

When the nib of the pen is in a withdrawn position (see FIG. 2) the action of spring 17 maintains this sliding implement Withdrawn in the sheath. Key 10, then, is blocked against tooth 5a obtained in the upper sheath 5 and reacts in relation to the thrust of spring 17. The appendix 13b lodges its base 13a in the tapered terminal housing of collar 14C and, `because of its relatively elastic characteristics, it hermetically seals the flow of ink to the nib. In this manner, the ink contained in the cartridge 21, bored by appendix 13b cannot flow through channel 13C.

So as to bring the pen nib into working position (see FIG. 1), an adequate thrust or pressure is exerted downwardly on key 10, until it overcomes the action of spring 17. Although the sliding movement of the elements inside the pen sheath is remarkably rapid, it may be distinguished into two phases. In an initial phase, the terminal 12a of the nib 12 pushes the elastic spoon-shaped bottom 15b into the position shown by FIG. 1 and protrudes through aperture 11, but it is not yet supplied with ink. In a second phase, as the axial longitudinal sliding movement of the nib continues, tooth 13z of support 13 meets ring nut 15, before the spring 17 is sufficiently compressed so as to allow key 10 to snap into its nal rr'es't'ing'position; then, asthisn position of the ykiey'i's ing position shown by FIGURE 1,)the rea'cto'n of-spring .A

17 4returns the axial sliding components "of'the pen inl a contrary and oppositedirectionand the pennib returns j to the withdrawn position, representedin"IGRE'LZL f Theme'chanism yfor blocking and 'releasing y'of lieyltL coacting with thel rotating bush 10a arid'With'the-toothe'd cap head 1 0b, is -Well known and reference isrnade, for example, to US. Patent 3,153,401;'Wliere arsimilar meel-'laf nism is `fully and clearly illustrated.' 1A second-reserve pen Y When the 'rstcartridge of inl isfenhausted it is "simply sufficient to -unscrew the sheatlis 8 5,-

fr om each 'otherand to turn the donble cartridgefupsidedown, thus ensheath and having automatic ink flow control, characvterizedlbythe combination of the following elementsz` (a) An annular section' having two members, each with diierent diameter; I: (b) An elongated'nibfsupportrslidably engaged in said annular sectionand Vhaving anV annular collar at the upper extrem-ity thereof; said support beingI actuated inits movements vyithinthe sheath by a spring; (e'),As ealing ,valveconnected tosaid 1 -1 it'-s`uppo r ty and lodged von said collar and cornpressiblethereagainst `by spring action zindhaving apoin'ted terminus capable of `penetrating into the cartridge of the pen; (-d) Oneor f rnoreow vchannels connected to said nibsupport and said valve for the passage 'of ink theretlrou'gh; Y I f I (e) `aeg-terminal resi1ient ringnut-havingappropriate j' ',IsPOQU-shaped resilient basefwithaperture therein for 5 ithe'passage therethrough ofthe pen inkg'and I ('f') A manually operated keyin` the upper portion of the ,sheath for projecting the pen nib through said aperture in the spoon-shapedb ase;l saidv key being ible'cliable 'by a retainingtoothtohold the pen nib on each other.v

gaging the'reserve cartridge oni appendixl 3b,` and then to rethread the two components 5 and 6. lNIne'ral 25 indicates Va blocking ring nut which prevents the longi-y tudinally inserted elements ofthe pe'h'frorn beirigrei` movedwhen sheaths 5, 6 are disassembled. f y

From the above descripition of the'deviceiof ythe hereabove,j manymodiiic a tions being possible without diverting from the scope-and principles of the invention.

` What'is clairnedis:r A

1. A pen with' reversiblenk-cartridge and with writing implement :axially and I longitudinally sliding within a saidva'lve'are helical springs f sheathgportions are Unthreaded: Y

i i i References Cited IUNITED STATES' PATENTS 895,463

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner.

for sliding said-nib'support-and said spring for actuating j v3, The pen according to `claim i2, Whereinna radial tooth is positioned jin-thelower part of the sheathand en-i 'i gaged' in a suitable groove in lsaid sheath Ato prevent the nib-support `from falling out of the sheath when'the two 

